Much of the (more recent) theoretical literature on European integration conveys the impression that this process can move in only one direction – forwards. In this seminar, Webber will argue that several influential integration theories are wrong and that European political integration is a highly contingent process whose survival has been sustained by two principal variables – benign domestic political constellations in the member states and the existence of a ‘pro-integrationist’ dominant coalition or power – that are fast eroding. Thus there is – and was, already before the UK’s historic ‘Brexit’ vote in June this year – a (rapidly) growing threat of European disintegration. To support this argument, Webber has presented preliminary findings from a comparative analysis of the EU’s major current crises – the Eurozone, Schengen/refugee, Brexit and neighbourhood (Ukraine-Russian, Libyan and Syrian) crises.